Visa Program Offers Worker Shortage Solution

State lawmakers are considering legislation leveraging an innovative visa program to help address Connecticut’s worker shortage.

HB 6585 authorizes a study to determine the feasibility of public universities using the visa cap exemption process to fill high-value job openings.

CBIA’s Ashley Zane told the legislature’s Commerce Committee that Massachusetts currently uses the cap exemption to promote economic growth through the Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program.

“This bill helps address the worker shortage by examining previously overlooked labor markets to expand the size of our workforce,” she told committee members Feb. 10.

“Each year, hundreds of international students enroll in the Connecticut public university system, complete their course of study, and return to their home country taking with them the skills, knowledge, and future income potential they have learned and could have earned in our state.

“HB 6585 is a positive step toward increasing our state’s workforce diversity and may prove to be a successful public private partnership for universities and businesses.”

‘Win-Win’

Using legal immigration to address the worker shortage crisis is one of CBIA’s 2023 Transform Connecticut policy recommendations.

Connecticut’s labor force has lost over 53,000 people since February 2020, while job openings increased 46% over the same period.

Even if every unemployed person was hired, Connecticut would still have over 20,000 unfilled positions.

“Connecticut should catch up with Massachusetts and stay ahead of other states in retaining its foreign graduates.”

Murtha Cullina’s Dana Bucin

Dana Bucin, a partner at CBIA member company Murtha Cullina, told the committee that the bill will “result in concrete measures to address workforce shortages and attract entrepreneurs.”

“It is a great win-win for our local industries, universities, foreign graduates, and entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she said.

“Connecticut should catch up with Massachusetts and stay ahead of other states in retaining its foreign graduates and attracting them from other states.”

The Greater New Haven and Quinnipiac Chambers of Commerce, University of Connecticut, and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association all testified in support of the bill.

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Ashley Zane (860.244.1169) | @AshleyZane9.